Label cutting and folding mechanism



Aug. 20, 1940. RQSENTHAL 2,211,862

LABEL CUTTING AND FbLDINe MECHANISM Filed Sept. 8, 1958 ATTO NEY5Patented Aug. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to Rose Patch &Rapids, Mich.

Label 4 Company, Grand Application September 8, 1938, Serial No.228,925-

8 Claims.

This invention relates to label cutting and folding mechanism, andparticularly to the mechanism for cutting, folding and balancing labels.It has for its objects:

First, to produce a new and improved machine of the type described.

Second, to provide such a machine which is capable of handling wovenlabels which are fed face up to the cutting and folding mechanism.

Third, to provide a new and improved balancing mechanism for use on sucha machine.

Fourth, to provide such a balancing mechanism which may be adjustedaccurately and sensitively to operate on the raised portion of the faceof the label.

Fifth, to provide such a machine in which felt covered pull back meansare employed to engage tion, so that the feeding means need not pull thelabel strip directly from the supply roll.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to details and economies ofconstruction and operation will appear from the description to follow.The

invention is defined in the claims. Preferred embodiments of myinvention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing my improved machine.

Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the balancing and pull back mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

In the machine shown, I is a supply roll from which the label strip 2 isfed. 3 is the balancing mechanism and 4 the pull back means. 5 are thefeeding jaws. 6 is the knife for severing the label from the end of thestrip. 8 is the folding mechanism and l is the packing mechanism toreceive the cut and folded labels.

In the operation of the machine, the feeding jaws 5 reciprocate alongthe line of travel of the label strip 2 and for each reciprocation, feedthe label strip 2 substantially one label length. In operation the jaws5 grasp the label strip at the position shown in Fig. l and advance it'through the knife to the folding mechanism. The knife 6 then severs anindividual label from the end of the strip. The label strip on which themachine operates is a woven strip. On the face 9 of this. strip raisedinsignia III are formed by weaving. These insignia may either be atrade-mark or some decorative matter which must be properly centered onthe finished cut and folded label. The

balancing mechanism 3 and the pull back means I serve to properly centeror balance the insignia. The label -strip may also have thereon raisedportions III! which may be used in balancing the label instead of usingthe insignia l0 themselves, although with my machine it is possible toobtain satisfactory results using either the insignia ID or the raisedportion I I0.

After an individual label is severed from the end of the strip, thestrip is released so that it may be pulled back along its line oftravel. This pulling back of the label strip must be checked with theinsignia of the next label in the proper position so that the forwardfeeding will properly center the insignia for severing and folding. Thispulling back of the label strip is accomplished with the pull back jaws4 which reciprocate along the line of feeding the label strip. Thesepull back means 4 are effective to pull the strip back until thebalancing means 3 engage the raised insignia ll! of the face of thelabel as shown in Fig. 2 or one of the raised portions N0 of the face ofthe label. The reciprocation of the means 4 is so timed that thereciprocation to the left; in Fig. 1 is: obtained after the label hasbeen severed from the end of the strip and before a new feeding cyclestarts.

The balancing means consists of a bed II over which the label strip 2passes face up. A support 12 is provided having a way I3 in which ashaft 14 is fitted for movement transversely of the label strip. Asuitable screw I5 is arranged to hold the shaft in adjusted position.This permits the adjustment of the balancing mechanism to engage theface of the label strip at any point on a. transverse line across thelabel.

A fixed arm 16 is provided on the shaft and a pivoted finger I1 isprovided on the end of the shaft. This finger has a blade l8 thereon.This blade l 8 is a thin sheet metal blade and-the finger I1 is weightedsufficiently to hold the blade to the desired down position, althoughpermitting the feeding of the label strip without hindrance. A screw I9is screw threaded in the finger l1 and engages a lug portion 20 on thefixed arm It. This permits very accurate and delicate adjustment of theposition of the edge of the blade IS with reference to the bed II. Itwill be ap- -parent that backward movement of the label strip along thisline of movement will be checked or arrested by 'engagement with theblade II against the insignia III of the label strip.

Heretofore it has been considered necessary in balancing labels to havethe balancing means engage the back of the label strip. Ordinarily inweaving the insignia III or a raised portion Ill! into a label strip,the portion of the insignia In or raised portion H on the back of thelabel strip extends from the back of the strip more than the insignia orraised portion extends from the face of the strip, making it easier toobtain engagement. The portions extending from the back of the labelstrip, however, are not as tightly woven as the insignia I ll or theportions H0 on the face of the label and consequently it is not possibleto obtain as accurate a balancing in this manner as is possible if theinsignia or raised portion on the face of the label is employed. It hasbeen impossible, however, with existing mechanisms to utilize theinsignia ill or raised portion H0 on the face of the label strip whichcan be accomplished by using my invention.

Adjustment of the balancing mechanism along the line of feeding of thelabel strip is obtained through a screw 2| having a knurled end 22. Thismay be accomplished while the machine is in operation, greatly speedingup adjustment.

The pull back mechanism consists of a lower member 23 mounted in ways 24for reciprocation backward and forward along the line of movement of thelabel. A projecting lug 25 is engaged by the arm 26 having cam followers21 in engagement with the lug 25 to permit reciprocation in bothdirections. The arms 26 are reciprocated in time with the rest of themachine and reciprocate back along the line of feeding of the stripafter the label strip has been released following the severing of theindividual label from the end thereof. The upper member of the pull backmechanism is shown at 28 and is provided with a knob 29 for raising thesame. It is apertured at 30 to receive pin 3| extending from the face ofthe member 23 to position the upper member 28. The label strip 2 passesbetween the members r 23 and 28 and they are provided respectively withfelt label engaging faces 32 and 33.

It will be apparent that these faces will grasp the label onreciprocation of the pull back mechanism 4 to the left as viewed in Fig.2, and thus the label strip 2 which is then released will be pulledrearwardly or backwardly along the line of its movement. The label stripis held frictionally between the faces 32 and 33, and when the blade iiiof the finger I1 engages the raised insignia of the label, there will bea slipping of the pull back mechanism along the label strip. It ispossible by the use of the felt faces 32 and 33 to obtain a verydelicate adjustment which permits the blade l8 to engage the insignia onthe face of the label.

Delicacy is obtained in a manner hitherto not possible and the weight ofthe member 28 is such that the frictional engagement of the faces 32 and33 with the label strip 2 is such that the released label strip ispulled back freely, although the label strip slips freely and evenlybetween the faces 32 and 33, either on engagement of the blade l8 withthe raised insignia or upon operation of the feeding means to feed thelabel strip. This eliminates the necessity for any mechanical means forreleasing the pull back mechanism when the label strip has been pulledback to the proper position.

It is desirable to have the label strip 2 free for feeding. If it ispulled directly from the supply roll I the feeding mechanism may beovertaxed. By employing an arm 34 pivoted at 33 having a portion 3!which lies over the label strip, this is overcome. The label strip isengaged between the balancing mechanism 3 and the supply roll I. Cam 31having a heart-shaped groove 38 engaging a cam follower 39 on the arm 34is timed to reciprocate the arm downwardly after the balancing mechanism3' has engaged the insignia of the label strip so that a loose loop ofthe label strip is pulled from the reel I for feeding. This avoidsoverloading the feeding means 5 and thelabel strip is fed more evenly.

I have shown and described my device in the form preferred by me andwish to claim the same broadly as well as specifically, as pointed outin the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described having means for cyclicallyfeeding a label strip substantially a label length, severing anindividual label and releasing the strip for backward movement along itsline of feeding, the combination of a bed over which the strip passesduring feeding, balancing means comprising a support adjustable alongthe line of strip travel and having a way perpendicular to said line, ashaft in said way adjustable transversely of the line of travel of saidstrip, an arm fixed to said shaft, a label engaging finger having anedge adapted to engage raised portions of the label strip to checkmovement of the label strip backwardly along the line of feeding pivotedon said shaft and having a screw engaging said arm to permit adjustmentof said finger to or away from the bed over which said strip is fed, anda pull back comprising a pair of jaws in the line of travel of the stripand through which the label strip passes positioned to pull the labelstrip back through the balancing means and timed to reciprocate back onthe line of feeding of the label when the strip is released from thefeeding means comprising a reciprocating bed having a felt labelengaging face and an opposed felt covered plate of a weight to grasp thelabel strip sufficiently to pull it back when the strip is released andto permit slipping of the strip when the feeding means operate toadvance the strip.

2. In an apparatus of the class described having means for cyclicallyfeeding a label strip substantially a label length, severing anindividual label and releasing the strip for backward movement along itsline of feeding, the combination of a bed over which the strip passesduring feeding, balancing means comprising a label engaging fingerhaving an edge adapted to engage raised portions of the label strip tocheck movement of the label strip backwardly along the line of feeding,and a pull back comprising a pair of jaws in the line of travel of thestrip and through which the label strip passes positioned to pull thelabel strip back through the balancing means and timed to reciprocateback on the line of'feeding of the label when the strip is released fromthe feeding means comprising a reciprocating bed having a felt labelengaging face and an opposed felt covered plate of a weight to grasp thelabel strip sufliciently to pull it back when the strip is released andto permit slipping oi the strip when the feeding means operate toadvance the strip. I

3. In an apparatus of the class described having means for cyclicallyfeeding a label strip substantially a label length. severing anindividual label and releasing the strip for backward movement alongitsline of feeding, the combination of a bed over which the strip passesduring feeding, balancing means comprising a label engaging fingerhaving an edge adapted to engage raised portions of the label strip tocheck movement of the label strip backwardly along the line of feeding,and a pull back comprising a pair of jaws in the line'of travel of thestrip and through whichthe label strip passes positioned to pull thelabel strip back through the balancing means and timed to reciprocateback on the line of feeding of the label when the strip is released fromthe feeding means having felt covered faces to grasp the label strip,said jaws grasping the strip sufficiently to pull it back when the stripis released and to permit slipp of the strip when the feeding meansoperateto advance the strip.

4. In an apparatus of the class described having means for cyclicallyfeeding a label strip substantially a label length, severing anindividual label and releasing the strip for backward movement along itsline of feeding, the combination of a bed over which the strip passesduring feeding, balancing means adapted to engage raised portions of thelabel strip to check movement of the label strip backwardly along theline of feeding, and a pull back comprising a pair of jaws in the lineof travel of the strip and through which the label strip passespositioned to ull the label strip back through the balancing means andtimed to reciprocate back on the line of feeding of the label when thestrip is released from the feeding means having felt covered faces tograsp the label strip, said jaws grasping the strip suiiiciently to pullit back when the strip is released and to permit slipping of the striprahlen the feeding means operate to advance the 5. In an apparatus ofthe class described having means for cyclically feeding a label stripsubstantially a label length, severing an individual label and releasingthe strip for backward movement along its line of feeding, thecombination of a bed overwhich the strip passes during feeding,balancing means adapted to engage raised portions of the label strip tocheck movement of the label strip backwardly along the line of feeding,and a pull back comprising a pair of jaws in the line of travel of thestrip and through which the label strip passes positioned to pull thelabel strip back through the balancing means and timed to reciprocateback on the line of feeding of the labelwhen the strip is released ofthe strip when the feeding means operate to.

advance the strip.

6. In an apparatus of the classdescribed having means for cyclicallyfeeding a label strip substantially a label length,-severing anindividual label and releasing the strip for backward movement along itsline of feeding, the combination of means supplying the label strip faceup, balancing means adapted to engage raised portions on ,the face ofthe strip to check movement of the strip backwardly along the line offeeding, pull back jaws positioned to pull the strip backwardly throughthe balancing means and having felt covered label engaging faces betweenwhich the strip passes, said jaws grasping the strip sufficiently topull it back when it is released and to permit slipping of the stripwhen the feeding means feed it, and means to reciprocate said pull backjaws back along the line of travel of the strip between the release ofthe strip and the operation of the feeding means.

, 7. In an apparatus of the class described having means for cyclicallyfeeding a label strip substantially a label length, severing anindividual label and releasing the strip for backward movement along itsline of feeding, the combination of a bed over which the strip passesduring feeding, balancing means adapted 'to engage raised portions ofthe label strip to check movement of the label strip backwardly'alongthe line of feeding, and a pull back comprising strip grasping meanshaving a felt strip engaging face and located in the line of travel ofthe strip and through which the label strip passes positioned to pullthe label strip back through the balancing means and timed toreciprocate back on the line of feeding of the label when the strip isreleased from the feeding means, said strip grasp ing means grasping thestrip sufliciently to pull it back when the strip is released and topermit slippingof the strip' when the feeding means operate to advancethe strip.

8. In an apparatus of the class described having means for cyclicallyfeeding a label strip substantially a label length, severing anindividual label and releasing the strip for backward movement along itsline of feeding, the combination of means supplying the label strip'faceup, balancing means adapted to engage raised portions on the face of thestrip to check movement of the strip backwardly along the line offeeding, pull back means having a felt strip engaging face positioned topull'the strip backwardly through the balancing means, said pull backmeans grasping the strip sufllciently to pull it back when it isreleased and to permit slipping of the strip when the feeding means feedit, and means to reciprocate said pull back means back along the line oftravel of the strip between the release of .the strip and the operationof thefeeding means.

ARTHUR 1mm.

